Bono Says He Doesn't Like How 'Girly' Music Has Become

"Hip-hop is the only place for young male anger at the moment—and that's not good."

Bono of U2
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MADRID, SPAIN - NOVEMBER 10: Bono of U2 attends the 40 Music Awards press room at WiZink Center on November 10, 2017 in Madrid, Spain. (Photo by Carlos Alvarez/Getty Images)

Bono of U2

U2 front man Bono has some strong, but confusing, thoughts on today’s music landscape.

In a recent Rolling Stone interview with Jann Wenner, the rock legend was asked about the ways he is introduced to contemporary music. He explained his children have become his main source for discovering new artists; however, Bono said he isn’t pleased with how feminine the industry has become, leaving very little opportunities for angry boys to express their emotions outside of rap.

“I think music has gotten very girly. And there are some good things about that, but hip-hop is the only place for young male anger at the moment—and that's not good,” he said. “When I was 16, I had a lot of anger in me. You need to find a place for it and for guitars, whether it is with a drum machine—I don't care. The moment something becomes preserved, it is fucking over. You might as well put it in formaldehyde. In the end, what is rock & roll? Rage is at the heart of it. Some great rock & roll tends to have that, which is why the Who were such a great band. Or Pearl Jam. Eddie has that rage.”

As you probably guessed, Twitter went in.

Fortunately for Bono and sad—presumably white—boys everywhere, he’s convinced another rock & roll revolution is on the horizon. 

You can check out the full interview, in which Bono discusses U2's new album, Donald Trump, and his near-death experience, at Rolling Stone's website

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